Game 61: Toyota 130, Crispa 119 (Nov. 2, 1978)

Toyota frustrated Crispa behind a third quarter surge to create a tie for second behind Crispa with two playdates left in the 1978 PBA second conference semifinals.

U-Tex nips Tanduay; Toyota drubs Crispa

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Friday Nov. 3, 1978

Glenn McDonald shot 52 points — a new scoring record in the semifinal round in another stirring performance last night to spark U-Tex to an uphill 100-98 victory over Tanduay that earned for the Wranglers a tie for a slot in the finals of the PBA second conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The victory — the Wranglers’ fourth straight — preceded Toyota’s vengeful 130-119 thumping of Crispa which put the Tamaraws back in serious contention for a berth in the two-team finals.

Toyota’s win placed the Tamaraws and the 400s dead even in second place with identical 2-2 cards, with a three-way tie for first place among U-Tex, Crispa and Toyota now a possibility.

Game 60: Crispa 136, Toyota 123 (Oct. 22, 1978)

Crispa recovered from being down in the first quarter to beat Toyota at the start of the 1978 PBA second conference semifinals. The win also the 400s’ third against the Tamaraws in as many games in the tournament.

Crispa five downs Toyota

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Monday Oct. 23, 1978

Defending champion Crispa, taking advantage of the absence of Toyota import Carlos Terry, overcame an early 13-point deficit to turn back the Tamaraws, 136-123, in the opening games of the PBA second conference semfinals at the Araneta Coliseum.

Terry sprained his ankle three days ago and watched the action from the bench with his right foot in plaster cast.

With him out, the Tams were routed at center where Crispa imports Ansley Truitt and Paul Mills proved too much for Bruce “Sky” King.

Game 59: Crispa 112, Toyota 105 (Sept. 16, 1978)

Crispa repeated over Toyota to enhance its chances of making the semifinals of the 1978 PBA second conference.

Crispa turns back Toyota

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday Sept. 17, 1978

Defending champion Crispa relied on steady foul shooting in the homestretch last night to roll back Toyota, 112-105, and boost its semifinal bid in the PBA second conference.

The victory — a repeat of the Redmanizers’ 129-108 win over the Tamaraws in the first round of eliminations — gave the defending titlists sole possession of third place with a 7-4 record behind pacesetting Tanduay (8-2) and U-Tex (7-4).

The loss dropped the Tamaraws to a tie for fourth place with idle Royal Tru-Orange with identical 6-5 records.

Game 58: Crispa 129, Toyota 108 (Aug. 12, 1978)

Bogs Adornado flashed his old form, leading Crispa to victory over Toyota in the first round of the 1978 PBA second conference. Imports Ansley Truitt and Paul Mills were also instrumental in the 400s victory.

Crispa crushes Toyota by 21

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday Aug. 13, 1978

Crispa, sparked by William Adornado and imports Ansley Truitt and Paul Mills, routed Toyota in the third quarter, 40-22, and went on to crush the Tamaraws, 129-108, last night at the Araneta Coliseum before some 25,000 fans who braved the stormy weather.

After trailing in the first two quarters, Baby Dalupan’s charges made fans forget about their loss to U-Tex last Thursday when they smashed the Tamaraws’ defense with impunity in the second half to win by a crushing margin.

Adornado, rounding back to his old form, and Mills engineered a crippling third-quarter blitz which razed a 53-49 Toyota halftime lead and started the defending champions to victory.

Game 57: Toyota 116, Crispa 108 (July 6, 1978)

Toyota foiled Crispa’s comeback attempt to gain a spot in the 1978 PBA All-Filipino Conference championship against sister team Filmanbank. The loss denied Crispa a finals appearance for the second straight conference.

Toyota, Filmanbank will dispute crown

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Friday July 7, 1978

Toyota squandered a big 29-point lead but held on to a 116-108 victory over Crispa and Filmanbank came from behind to beat Tanduay, 103-93, last night to enter the best-of-five series for the PBA All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Like a stampeding herd, the Tamaraws trampled the fumbling Redmanizers in the first two quarters for a big 29-point lead, 62-33, but the Redmanizers, led by Fortunato Co, Jr., came charging back in the final period and almost turned the tide in their favor.

Game 56: Crispa 143, Toyota 127 (June 29, 1978)

Crispa moved within a win of advancing to the championship series of the 1978 PBA All-Filipino Conference after exacting a measure of revenge on Toyota in their first semifinal meeting.

Crispa trounces Toyota quintet, 143-127

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Friday June 30, 1978

Crispa’s concentrated fury boiled over Toyota last night as the Redmanizers routed the Tamaraws, 143-127, and moved within a game of clinching a finals berth in the Philippine Basketball Association All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Emotions ran high in the electric encounter as Crispa center Alberto Guidaben, seeking redress over a foul committed on him earlier, deliberately hit Ramon Fernandez in the face late in the third quarter, Crispa ahead, 100-83.

Tamaraw Jess Sta. Maria threw the ball at Guidaben in retaliation and both were thrown out of the contest. The penalty carries at least a one-game suspension.

3 players suspended (June 23, 1978)

PBA Commissioner Leo Prieto suspended and fined three players while Crispa and Toyota were also handed stiff sanctions for the heated exchanges that marred their 1978 PBA All-Filipino Conference match.

3 players suspended; PBA semis on today

Bulletin Today

Published Saturday June 24, 1978

Hit by fines and suspensions slapped on some of their key players, tournament favorites Toyota and Crispa tackle separate rivals today at the start of the semifinals of the Philippine Basketball Association All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

That brawling game last Tuesday has exacted a dear price on both the Tamaraws and the Redmanizers.

Toyota plays surging Filmanbank at 5:30 p.m. minus backcourt-man Fortunato Acuna while Crispa is in a more difficult situation as it will face Tanduay at 7:30 p.m. without the services of Philip Cezar and Gregorio Dionisio.